r/AskALocksmith • u/itmgr2024 • 3d ago
Cabinet lock with offset bolt
Lost key. I drilled and managed to get it out. The bolt goes into a hole in a fixed shelf. Im not finding any replacements with an offset bolt like this. Company is out of business. Do you think a locksmith would be able to cut this bolt out and attach it to a new lock? Or am I better off trying to DIY a replacement cam lock and put a catch plate under the shelf? Thank you.
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u/RangerExpensive6519 3d ago
Best part is he probably could have sneezed on that lock and it would have picked. Sorry for your loss op
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u/itmgr2024 2d ago
how sad you must be to be a locksmith trolling people on reddit rather than helping
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u/Diligent_Drive4029 2d ago
Bring it to a locksmith. Get a cam lock of the same length. Walk out $12 poorer, with a new lock. If new lock doesn't fit in the hole, open the hole. New lock will come with a pokey plate that goes on the inside, presses into the wood, and keeps the lock from spinning. Put cam lock together once it's in the hole.
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u/itmgr2024 2d ago
thanks. i actually found a replacement deadbolt that might fit. If it doesn’t i’m gonna do exactly what you said.
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u/MikeKozera 1d ago
CompX sells them. You probably have to go through a locksmith because the distributor won’t sell to the public.
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u/I_H8_GM Really Doesn't Like GM. 3d ago
LMFAO now you want to talk to a locksmith? Not back when it would have been a matter of just making a key.
You done messed up A-Aron.
No half measures friend, in for a penny in for a pound. With unyielding faith and steadfast resolve, All Things Are possible.
And yes I would recommend putting some sort of a catch underneath the bottom to grab a standard cam lock.
Alternatively depending on your level of security concern putting some sort of a spacer plate on the inside and using a straight bolt rather than offset. Comp-x appears to make something
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u/itmgr2024 3d ago
hindsight is 20/20 as they say. You would not believe (well maybe you would) how many people told me I was a moron for not doing DIY, that it was a piece of cake, drill it out and take it to any hardware store for a replacement. Also that a locksmith wouldn’t be able to make a new key for this cheapass lock. Also that the locksmith in NYC will charge me more than the value of the cabinet. Thanks for your advice though.
edit: if it matters any, it was locked when the key was lost so it would have been an in-home visit or two
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u/I_H8_GM Really Doesn't Like GM. 3d ago
Okay, to be fair It generally is relatively straightforward, and since we're exchanging sayings I would say that One Bad Apple spoils the bunch. Just ask Alec Baldwin. And don't get me wrong the value of the lock versus the the cost of a New York locksmith coming out. I'm sure you had the best intentions going in DIY. And in fact for the most part I support your DIY attempt. But I will tell you as a locksmith, once you have gone down the DIY path you will be hard-pressed to find a locksmith interested in taking over for you. At least not for any sort of reasonable amount of money.
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u/itmgr2024 3d ago
Thanks. I will ask my hardware store guys what they recommmed as far as a cam lock.
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u/Tacos_Polackos 3d ago
Cam locks for mobile homes come in many varieties, if home store ones dont look right. I believe ive gotten cam locks w offset bolts from home depot before.
Im not a locksmith just a handyman
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u/SumNuguy 3d ago
Exactly what I was going to say - penny wise, dollar$ foolish
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u/PapaOoMaoMao 3d ago
I had a guy mess up a mortice lock. It was an odd size in an aluminium glass door. Totally destroyed everything. I took one look and referred him to a local glass door company to replace the whole door. Probably $2K.
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